Stage 2 Audio upgrade

Jaydub · Jul 13, 2015

Stage 1 was the installation of the Kenwood DNX525dab,better on board amplication,dab radio plus music streaming and iPhone connectivity.
Stage 2 has just started. These components ready to go in.

And come out.

So the new mid range speakers are bigger than standard and will be mounted on mdf and the door panels dynamatted to absorb any unwanted vibrations,keep the sound inside the van and also does a great job of reducing road/tyre noise at speed.
Back shortly with installed pictures.

Jaydub · Jul 13, 2015

So door speakers in,sound proofing done on inner panel behind speaker and outer panel.crossover mounted in the panel and new speaker cables.

Tweeter ready to be mounted under the dash grill.

reserves · Jul 13, 2015

Following this one with interest

ChocolateEclair · Jul 13, 2015

Me also!

IanE · Jul 13, 2015

Looks very tasty! Sorry we didn't meet up at COTF but perhaps for me it was for the best add your set up is clearly going to be in a different order to mine and I would just get jealous and dissatisfied

Jaydub · Jul 13, 2015

So these came out.

They really are cheap rubbish,shame on you VW.

Finished factory stealth look.

So how does it sound.
For such a relatively simple upgrade a massive improvement,low to mid volume much better bass response,crack up a little really starts to come alive,the tweeters in the dash bouncing the higher frequencies off the windscreen bringing the sound stage forward,even at max volume no distortion with the equaliser setting all set flat.
The big test was could my wife hear the difference,normally a speaker sounds like a speaker.But no,I got a wow even I can tell the difference.
I not trying to create a mobile boom box just while driving I like to listen to some of my favourite music and it sound close to how the artist intending and not like they have a sock over the microphone.

Stage 3 may introduce a small underseat subwoofer to help out a little while travelling at noise cancelling motorway speeds.

I extra bonus the sound deadening mats have made the doors shut with a really nice thunk. I may need to sneak off to the garage with my favourite cd shortly

hubert72 · Jul 13, 2015

Thanks for posting, really useful info. I am tempted to give this a go, I am really disappointed with the sound in the van after paying so much for the upgrade, I have a Bose system in my Audi which is fantastic sound for a factory fit unit but makes the VW even more disappointing when switching from car to van.

Jaydub · Jul 13, 2015

hubert72 said:
Thanks for posting, really useful info. I am tempted to give this a go, I am really disappointed with the sound in the van after paying so much for the upgrade, I have a Bose system in my Audi which is fantastic sound for a factory fit unit but makes the VW even more disappointing when switching from car to van.

I work for Audi so I'm also used to the Bose/ bang and olufsen set ups.The upgrade runs close to matching those set ups but with scope to go way beyond if you desire and wallet permits.I just hated the fact the factory head unit and speakers could barely keep out the road/tyre noise on a motorway.

hubert72 · Jul 13, 2015

Jaydub said:
I work for Audi so I'm also used to the Bose/ bang and olufsen set ups.The upgrade runs close to matching those set ups but with scope to go way beyond if you desire and wallet permits.I just hated the fact the factory head unit and speakers could barely keep out the road/tyre noise on a motorway.

Just realised I said Bose, it is actually B&O, the Audi system is as good as I would ever want so I am impressed if your new set up is something like, will have to raid the piggy bank and attack the van, just a bit worried as to what warranty implications would be if something went horribly wrong while dabbling.

nclarke8 · Aug 17, 2015

Hi jaydub, like the speaker upgrade. I've actually done stage 1 and 3 , added the underseat subwoofer and it makes a big difference. It did mean seats out and carpet lifted to feed cable from head unit but easy enough.

On holiday in France and front drivers speaker is knackered and now very annoying.

Can't tell from the photo but what speakers did u fit as got to change ours now :rage

Neil

Jaydub · Aug 18, 2015

nclarke8 said:
Hi jaydub, like the speaker upgrade. I've actually done stage 1 and 3 , added the underseat subwoofer and it makes a big difference. It did mean seats out and carpet lifted to feed cable from head unit but easy enough.

On holiday in France and front drivers speaker is knackered and now very annoying.

Can't tell from the photo but what speakers did u fit as got to change ours now

Neil

Hi Neil.

JL audio C2 650 2 way component speakers mounted on a pre made mdf spacer. Treble and midrange much crisper and bass a lot tighter but likes a little power to drive them. I'm very pleased with them and the under seat sub should fill in the bass at lower volumes. What sub did you install ?

nclarke8 · Aug 18, 2015

Hi jay, it's a
In Phase USW10 300 Watt Underseat Active Subwoofer including Remote Bass Controller/Wiring Kit
Bought from Amazon. It's designed to go under standard car seats so looks a little small under the seat base. It works well but at volume on bassy tracks it needs to be turned down as it maxes out. Personally would look for a more powerful one / bigger one.

Bubba Gross · Aug 18, 2015

Jay dub, where did you get the spacers from ? I've just done the rears so quite like the idea of this ....

fred · Sep 21, 2015

@Jaydub thanks for the tips - just ordered two pairs of these speakers for front and rear. Could you advise what speaker adapters you used? The ones in the pics look as though they're custom made / plastic, but you say later they're MDF. Or did you use both?

Jaydub · Sep 22, 2015

They are pre drilled mdf spacers,I got them through a friend at work,I will ask who the end supplier is and let you know. Good luck with the install let me know about the rear ones as I haven't done those yet.

fred · Sep 22, 2015

@Jaydub thanks. Having taken out the rear speakers they're <strikethrough>exactly the same</strikethrough> smaller drivers, same tweeters as the fronts...

DavidApp · Sep 23, 2015

Nice thread, considering this as the next upgrade as stock speakers on the 525DAB are pretty terrible. Has anyone got a pic of the under seat sub install?

reserves · Sep 23, 2015

DavidApp said:
Has anyone got a pic of the under seat sub install?

There's a company doing custom T5 underseat enclosures with a TW3 JL shallow sub which looks pretty impressive.

This isn't a Cali though, so not sure with swivel seat etc?

DavidApp · Sep 23, 2015

Thanks, was wondering how it would work with the swivel seats....?

Jaydub · Sep 23, 2015

Hopefully have underseat sub install done soon.

IanE · Sep 23, 2015

I'm pleased with our alpine PWE V80 powered sub that Hazydays fired under the driver's seat - along with an alpine 4 channel amp. The seat swivels no bother.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

reserves · Sep 24, 2015

reserves said:
There's a company doing custom T5 underseat enclosures with a TW3 JL shallow sub which looks pretty impressive.

This isn't a Cali though, so not sure with swivel seat etc?

For info I contacted the company that makes / installs these enclosures and they stated that they do still allow the drivers seat to spin when installed.

Probably a bit OTT for me personally, they also offer a bass speaker in the door and mid / treble under the grill on the dash, could be a good option. Though guess would still need a small amp.

DavidApp · Sep 24, 2015

reserves said:
For info I contacted the company that makes / installs these enclosures and they stated that they do still allow the drivers seat to spin when installed.

Who is this company of which you speak? I'm personally utterly inept when it comes to wiring so would probably look at getting it done by an ICE retailer.

reserves · Sep 25, 2015

DavidApp said:
Who is this company of which you speak? I'm personally utterly inept when it comes to wiring so would probably look at getting it done by an ICE retailer.

I've followed their installs on their Facebook page, but have never used them personally, I'm sure there are other T5 audio specialists too.

http://www.absolut5.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/Absolute-Audio-Absolut5-101763016528997/timeline/

If you do talk to them / another specialist let us know how you get on.

Here's the install in the original door / dash locations

nclarke8 · Sep 28, 2015

After fitting a pair of JL Audio TR 650 Speakers (cheaper version of what Jay fitted) my little sub was way out of its league. The sound from the front speakers and sound deadening makes a huge improvement, especially at motorway speed.
So it was out with this

and in with My DIY enclosure. I had a broken home theatre Subwoofer so used the Speaker in this small enclosure. Like the front speakers its made a great difference to the sound.